C. $. O. M. F. 237.
)
mises are not large enough for what is required. The Building Contrac-
Association have generously come forward and offered to con- struct a new building at cost price, thus appreciably reducing the expen- diture to be faced by Government. With this generous offer before it and having regard to the essential nature of the work to be carried out, Government has considerd it neces- sary to proceed at once with the scheme.
recommended by Salaries Commission less than five years ago, but also
extension of Infant Welfare Centres
that
both in Hongkong and Kowloon have a Retrenchment Commission,
been
These tors' thoroughly justified. consisting mainly of Unofficials, which I appointed only a year or and there can be no doubt that they centres are increasing in popularity two ago, found itself unable to re- commend any very drastic reduction are a most valuable contribution to
f establishment. We are, however,
the health of the Colony. At pre- sent centres are established in rent- hrrying out a scheme of a local
ed premises; but I trust that next oranch of the Senior Clerical and Accounting Staff and are endeavour-year there will be a special centre ing to train local sanitary inspectors. in existence at Wanchai generously Further, I hope that it may be pos- handed over
provided by private contribution and to Government when sible to train local nursing sisters
completed. and so reduce the large number of nursing sisters recruited from Eng- land. I propose to go into this ques- tion with my honourable friend, the Director of Medical
and Sanitary Services.
I need hardly point out that the rise in the dollar has reduced con- siderably the local cost of the sterl- ing establishment.
The Police. There are a few increases in the Police establishment which have been found to be unavoidable, owing part- ly to the institution of the Remand Home, new Police Division at Shamshuipo, the traffic needs in the New Territories and the Registration
a
of Persons Ordinance.
Fanling Centre.
The Hongkong Naval Volunteer Force which was instituted nearly a year ago has so far proved a suc- cess and some increase has been al- lowed in the Estimates for the Force. The Admiralty, who are anxious to see this movement develop on right lines, has allotted a sloop as a head- It is note-quarter ship for a year in the first
instance.
I take this opportunity of express- ing the thanks of the Colony to the various Chinese hospitals and dispen- saries, and also to the St. John Am- bulance Brigade, for their great as- sistance in connection with matters of health and disease. worthy that a new health centre was opened early this year at Fanling, the cost of which was defrayed by Sir Robert and Lady Ho Tung to whom the thanks of the Colony are due. In addition to the money pro- vided for the building and its equip- ment, the donors also gave a sum, the income from which will pay part of the cost of running the Institu-
tion.
Government Civil Hospital.
The University.
Under the heading of Miscellane- ous, honourable members will see that the Government has again provided a sum of $350,000 as a grant to the University. This grant is subject to consideration annually. There might possibly have been some argument for reducing it, in
view of the Colony's financial position, but the In referring to this department I
finances of the University are far should like to associate myself with
from satisfactory and many urgent the tributes paid by my honourable There has been a notable develop needs of the University remain un- friends. the Colonial Secretary and ment of hospital buildings in the fulfilled. I am glad that it has been the senior Unofficial member, to Mr. Colony during the past few years, possible to carry out a few neces- Wolfe, who is shortly going on leave and Government is doing its part.
sary extensions, but there appears prior to retirement from the post of The new Government Civil Hospital little prospect of the University be- Inspector General of Police. Mr.
is progressing satisfactorily and
ing able in the near future to in- Wolfe, who originally joined the when completed should provide Hong- stitute a Chair of Public Health. Malayan Service a year after my kong with one of the finest institu- The absence of this I cannot but self, has had a long, honourable and tions of its kind in the Far East. regard as a serious stigma on the distinguished career in this Colony. Kowloon Hospital, which is an ad- Colony. I have more than once ap- The post of Head of the Police in mirable institution, has been steadi-pealed for financial help for the Hongkong has been by no means an ly extended and a new out-patients University, but unfortunately with- easy one. Not only have the pro-building is now on its way. Honour-
out result. I realize that times are blems been varied and important, but able members however, must realize bad, but I should like to express the the staff is of such an heterogene- that these enlarged and improved hope that when they improve some ous character that special qualities buildings will necessitate a perman- of those who reap the benefit of such are called for in the Head of the ent increase to the staff.
improvements will give generously Department if the machine is to be
towards the support and develop- maintained at a high standard of
ment of the University, which I re- efficiency. It will be readily conced- ed that Mr. Wolfe has maintained
re-gard as a great asset to the Colony such a standard and that he can
and one which undoubtedly adds to well look back with satisfaction to
the lustre of Hongkong, though that his record of service in this Colony.
lustre is likely to be dimmed unless In striking this personal note I
more support is forthcoming. also wish to associate myself with the tribute paid to Mr. Holmes, the Crown Solicitor, who also is retiring
next year.
I do not feel that I can
adequately express the extent to which Government has been indebt- ed to Mr. Holmes for the valuable advice and assistance which he has rendered. He has been a most de- voted Government Officer and has never spared himself in the public
service.
Public Health.
Referring to the Medical Depart- ment it will be seen that some in- creases have been provided for due in a large measure to the taking over of the Tsan Yuk Hospital, the
extension of the Kowloon Hospital and increased health work particular- ly in connection with Infant Welfare Centres. Much, however, still re- mains to be done. Meanwhile I may
say that the work done by Dr. Selby
and others at the venereal disease clinics has been admirable, while the
The Municipal Side.
I do not propose to make any ference to the estimates of the Sani- tary Department, but I would take this opportunity of informing the Council that important proposals for have been under consideration some time in regard to what might be called the municipal side of the Colony. These proposals are in a large measure the outcome of schemes put forward by my honourable friend, the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services, but the subject is a very difficult one and though legis- lation is being prepared finally ready for submission to the Council
Education.
Central British School.
In addition to works under the
heading of Public Works Extraordin- ary to which I have already refer- red, the sum of three lakhs is pro- vided
for the new Central British School. This, as has already been stated, has been put in the hands of a private architect and I trust
satisfacto will be it is not that progress
to
A notable feature in regard Education is the development of the Junior Technical School. I regard the development of this school on proper lines as one of the most im- portant matters connected with edu- cation in the Colony to-day. It is already doing excellent work, but de- velopment is necessary in certain
directions for which it has not been
possible hitherto to make provision. Vocational instruction is an import- ant desideratum, but the present pre-
and that this new school, the need for which has long been appreciat- ed, will be successfully completed in the not far distant future.
My honourable friend, the Colonial Secretary has already informed the Council of the progress on the Shing Mun Water Scheme. This report in- dicates clearly the good work that has been done. The difficulties which
have been encountered have been con- been
siderable, but progress has satisfactory and I am confident that in the able hands of the Resident Engineer, Mr. Hull, we can look for- ward to the completion of the scheme within the estimated time and with- in the estimated cost.
103
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.